Eric Kirk Memorial Award 2022 Winner Announced

Congratulations to Dr Phillip Passmore who is the worthy winner of the PSWA Eric Kirk Memorial Award for 2022. Dr Passmore was presented with his award at the PSWA Pharmacy Celebration which followed the Society’s AGM on Monday 24 October 2022. The date of this meeting was significant in that it was held on the 130th anniversary of the first meeting of the Pharmaceutical Society of Western Australia which was held at the Shamrock Hotel in Hay St in 1892.

Dr Phillip Passmore has made a significant contribution to pharmacy practice in Western Australia and internationally over many decades. His contribution to advancing the practice of pharmacy is evident in all the roles he has undertaken, including in community pharmacy, as an intern training preceptor and in the tertiary education sector.

Phillip was a Director and Proprietor in partnership of Community Pharmacy in South Perth from 1973 to 2007. Community Pharmacy was at the forefront of the profession for its services to the community, private hospitals, aged care facilities and even the Perth Zoological Gardens. During this time, in his role as a preceptor, Phillip supervised and supported many graduate pharmacists.

Phillip has also made a significant contribution to the education of pharmacy students and other health profession students. From 1988 to 2018 Phillip served as an Associate Professor and Senior Lecturer at the School of Pharmacy at Curtin University which involved curriculum development, teaching and research.

Phillip has also made a significant international impact, providing pharmaceutical services advice to improve primary health care in developing countries over many years.  From 1998 to 2022 Phillip served as a pharmaceutical consultant in Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Cambodia, Laos, Sudan and Thailand through a range of international bodies including the World Health Organisation, World Vision Australia, Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, AusAid and the Indonesian Food and Drug Authority. Phillip pioneered new pharmacy practice projects in Indonesia and throughout South East Asia. Since 1995, Phillip’s work included establishing and managing critical pharmaceutical services, improving the quality use of medicines and importantly the provision of medicines and related services following natural catastrophes and emergency situations in developing countries. Phillip has contributed substantially to the availability of immunisations and treatments for tuberculosis, malaria, leprosy and HIV/AIDS in Asian countries. Phillip is regarded as a scholar of high calibre in the development of pharmacy practice in developing societies.

Phillip’s passion for pharmacy throughout his career has resulted in him being an inspirational member of the profession.